Chapter 184: You?!
Manila, afternoon, 3:04 PM.
Location: National Central University of the Philippines.
This was a world-renowned university, but its official history wasn't long, established only a little over a decade ago. However, its predecessors, the University of the Philippines and the Central University of the Philippines, were both prestigious institutions with centuries of history.
From that perspective, calling it a long-standing institution wouldn't be entirely wrong.
In 2001, these two universities suddenly announced their merger without warning. This news had caused quite a stir in the international education community, but it turned out not to be an April Fool's joke.
They truly merged, forming the present-day National Central University of the Philippines.
Not only that, but it quickly rose to become an internationally renowned university, possessing high academic achievements in chemical engineering, biology, medicine, and other fields…
"Sigh…" Jell put down the document she was halfway through reading, casually closing it and placing it to one side. She couldn't help but rub her temples with a headache, lost in thought.
"Captain… are we really going to search inside this university?" A Valkyrie team member leaned forward from the back seat, hesitantly asking, still finding it hard to believe. "This is a school with nearly fifty thousand people! How could there be a Honkai beast here?"
As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at the grand gate in the distance again. Through the car window, they could clearly see the imposing gate, the gilded characters carved on the ancient and solid stone bricks proudly proclaiming its existence.
Young students flowed in and out at the entrance, forming a bustling stream. Security guards sat leisurely in the foyer, sipping refreshing drinks while observing everyone passing by.
And further away were the various high-rise buildings, hidden among lush tropical plants, only revealing a corner or two for outsiders to admire. The summer breeze blew, and the greenery formed rolling waves, further setting off the motionless buildings.
The Valkyries were captivated by the beauty of the place, but still found it hard to believe. If there truly were a Honkai beast here, wouldn't this place have already become a hell filled with death and roars?
"Um, Captain…" another more lively Valkyrie chimed in, "Did you see that we've been working non-stop these past few days, so you just came up with a random excuse to bring us here for sightseeing and relaxation?"
The team members started to chatter excitedly. Jell glanced at their faces and couldn't help but smile wryly. "Sigh… I wish that were the case…"
After speaking, she turned to "Yuno," who was sitting silently in the passenger seat, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Yuno, are you sure the clue you sensed is here?"
Early this morning, this usually taciturn "Yuno" approached her, saying that she had found another clue through communicating with plants.
The reason for saying "another" was because such things had happened several times in the past few days.
Each time, Yuno suddenly told her, "I've found a possible clue," so Jell, not daring to neglect it, immediately summoned all members of the Snow Lotus Squad, fully armed, to the hidden location, enduring the unpleasant smell emanating from the surrounding sewers, kicking open the rusty door…
…only to find a group of startled criminals.
Criminals: Σ( ° △ °|||)
Valkyries: (•ิ_•ิ)
Faced with this situation, the Valkyries couldn't help but exchange glances, then collectively looked towards their captain.
What could Captain Jell do? Contact the police, of course.
Half an hour later, several police cars arrived with cheerful sirens. The police officers, filled with the joy of "unexpected achievements," happily stuffed the criminals into the police cars like sardines while repeatedly thanking and praising the Valkyries who had given them such a great gift.
Before parting, each Valkyrie was given a large bouquet of snacks and fruits, a thank-you gift from the police officers, who had inquired and learned that girls liked this sort of thing.
So, the Valkyries exchanged glances again, momentarily unsure whether they had just wasted a trip, or had a bountiful harvest.
Jell could only smile wryly, glance at "Yuno," and announce the end of the operation with complex emotions.
As for Otto, hidden deep within "Yuno's" consciousness, he was equally perplexed. He had instructed the virtual personality to do this because he received intelligence from "He Kun," stating that it was the suspected hiding place of a secret organization.
So, "Yuno" led Jell and the Snow Lotus Squad there, only to discover it was a wild goose chase.
"In a sense, He Kun's intelligence wasn't wrong, since it was indeed a secret underground organization…"
Otto magnanimously forgave his "subordinate," believing that his work was proceeding exceptionally well and greatly anticipating his next performance.
Immediately afterward, as soon as Jell and the others returned to their base, Otto received new intelligence from Lin Wei, providing a new location.
So, the Valkyries, who had just put down their snacks and fruits, hurriedly set out again; half an hour later, they returned to base with another pile of new snacks and fruits. Because this time, they assisted the police in busting a drug trafficking organization…
Just like that, once, twice, thrice, until…
"Captain, let's take a break… I really can't… hic… eat anymore…" In the evening, a team member complained to the captain, rubbing her bulging stomach.
"Who told you to eat so much?" Jell said exasperatedly.
"Because the fridge is full!" The Valkyrie team member pointed to the mountain of fruits and snacks piled up in the corner, arguing reasonably, "It's so hot, if we don't eat them, they'll all go bad!"
Jell was speechless.
The next day, another "mountain" appeared at the base. Jell felt that this couldn't go on.
On the third day, Jell declined the police officers' kindness, stating that their base was already full…
She thought the police would be polite, but unexpectedly, they started complaining instead—
You guys running out of space to store food is nothing, our prisons are all full thanks to you! Some cells even have three people squeezed onto a single bed!
"Please, stop… If this goes on, you'll catch all the fish, and what will we eat next year?"
This made Jell quite embarrassed. But she couldn't complain about "Yuno," after all, she actually did find something each time. Maybe next time will be the real deal?
And Otto, no matter how magnanimous he was, was running out of patience with "He Kun's" so-called "intelligence." He directly sent a warning to Lin Wei, "If you continue to test my patience like this, you might as well go back to Anti-Entropy and continue your undercover work!"
Soon, Otto received a reply filled with fear and trepidation. The letter stated that he actually had another highly suspicious target, but the other party's identity was special, and he didn't dare to report rashly without more evidence.
He was stepping up his investigation and had sent other suspected targets to Otto. At the end of the letter, Lin Wei earnestly self-criticized, saying that his abilities were insufficient and that he had disappointed the Overseer.
"Heh, those Anti-Entropy guys are still so cautious…" Seeing the contents of the letter, Otto quickly believed Lin Wei's words. After all, that "He Kun" was equally cautious when investigating Schicksal.
So, Otto sent another message, asking him to tell him about the target he was currently investigating.
A few minutes later, "Yuno" once again approached Jell.
Hearing the news, Jell didn't dare to delay and immediately led her team, following the direction "Yuno" pointed, all the way to this university.
And then the somewhat awkward scene at the beginning occurred.
Jell really hoped to hear Yuno say, "Not here, turn around."
"Yes, it's here, right inside." "Yuno" nodded, speaking in a rather gentle voice.
After speaking, she even directly opened the car door and was about to get out of the car, looking as if she was going to barge right in.
"Wait!" Jell quickly stopped her, flashing a gentle smile. "We agreed to act together. You're my team member now—even if it's temporary, it still counts—so you have to follow orders, okay?"
"Yuno" looked at her blankly for a moment and nodded.
"Phew…" Seeing that this little ancestor had no objections, Jell couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. She was afraid that this seemingly gentle little girl, who went crazy when she got serious, would cause some trouble here.
Jell wiped off her cold sweat, composed herself, turned to her team members, and seriously instructed, "This place is different from the places we investigated before. This is the city center, densely populated, and chaos will easily arise if we're not careful. Everyone must pay attention to this."
Although she said "everyone," she was actually instructing "Yuno" alone, but using this way made it seem less abrupt.
After all, she possessed such immense power, yet was only a C-rank Valkyrie. This made Jell uneasy.
"Everyone knows that our Valkyrie squad doesn't have law enforcement authority, and it's not easy to apply for a temporary search warrant for sensitive areas like schools, so everyone must act discreetly and obey commands."
The team members understood and responded repeatedly, "Yuno" also nodded seriously.
"She really is a good girl." Seeing "Yuno's" well-behaved appearance, Jell couldn't help but relax. Anna's judgment is indeed good, she thought.
"Alright, everyone check your communicators, especially whether the quantum transmission of weapons and equipment is working correctly."
Jell nagged like a mother hen, "We'll enter the campus as tourists later, so it's not convenient to carry weapons and equipment before we reach the target location. But if we encounter any unexpected situations on the way, don't hesitate, arm yourselves immediately, understand?"
"Yes!" The team members perked up and responded in unison.
"Captain, you're so serious, you're making me nervous…" A slightly mischievous team member said with a chuckle.
"Nervous about what?" Jell lightly tapped her forehead. "No matter when, the captain will always be in front of you. With me here, what are you afraid of?"
"Hee hee, that's true…"
"You…" Jell smiled helplessly, then looked around, confirming that the team members were all ready, before giving "Yuno" a look and saying seriously, "Alright, mission start!"
...
At the same time, elsewhere.
Having just given a long and boring academic report to thousands of teachers and students in the school auditorium, Jackal casually closed the materials in front of her, pushed up the glasses adorning her face, and used this action to scan the teachers and students who stood up and applauded her "wonderful report" with a look of disdain.
She couldn't help but sneer, "Having to face such a group of ignorant people is such a waste of my time!"
But as the renowned "Dr. Cleo" in human society, she often attended such academic reports, winning applause with her constantly updated "latest research results."
Today was no different.
Or rather, she had no choice. As Jackal, she was naturally unknown and could stay hidden underground, conducting her private research. But as "Dr. Cleo," since she enjoyed all the conveniences of human society, she naturally had to maintain the social behavior befitting her status.
Jackal basked in their praise and adulation while despising their ignorance and loathing their foolishness.
"What a bunch of utterly boring people!" While wearing a proper smile, Jackal bowed elegantly like a queen and left the stage, thinking viciously in her heart, "It's such a pity that it's not yet time for the organization's public activities, and restraint is still necessary… Otherwise, why would I need to play house with you all here?"
No matter how arrogant, conceited, and condescending Jackal was, she was still the most devout believer of World Serpent's doctrines.
No matter how dissatisfied she was with her current situation, she never resented the "organization" in the slightest, only redirecting it towards the "status quo" itself.
"Ah! Professor Cleo!" Jackal faintly heard a youthful voice calling her from afar, but she ignored it, continuing to walk towards the exit without looking sideways.
"Professor Cleo, please wait!"
The owner of the voice squeezed through the noisy crowd, quickly approaching Jackal with hurried footsteps and blocking her way. They asked breathlessly, "Dr. Cleo, is your laboratory still recruiting interns?"
Jackal was quite disgusted with this boy who dared to block her way. He even forgot the basic etiquette of taking off his hat in front of her! What a rude and foolish fellow! Jackal thought, while still putting on a proper smile.
"I'm sorry, student, the application period has ended, and the quota is already full."
"Is that so? That's such a pity…" The boy lowered his head in disappointment, the wide brim of his hat further obscuring his face.
Experimental consumables are always welcome, aren't they? Since there was a fool who delivered himself to her doorstep, Jackal naturally accepted with pleasure.
Thus, the respected Dr. Cleo displayed her usual praised magnanimity and tolerance, speaking in a gentle tone, "But since you're so proactive, as a teacher, wouldn't it seem too unkind of me not to give you a chance?"
Her tone was as seductive as the serpent that tempted Adam and Eve.
"Really? That's great!" The boy was quite excited, grabbing Jackal's hand and bowing his head humbly, speaking in a trembling voice, "I thought I really didn't have a chance, but I didn't expect… Thank you, Professor Cleo!"
"Enough!" Jackal suddenly shouted angrily, retracting her grasped hands as if electrocuted. The feeling of being touched by a "commoner" made her feel nauseous.
Suppressing her surging anger, Jackal barely maintained her persona at the edge of a mental breakdown, forcing a smile and saying, "It's… it's okay… Student, if you're willing, you can come back to the laboratory with me now and start trying to… uh… start your work…"
You damned thing, since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish… No, a disgusting and rude fellow like you, I won't even let you die! Jackal thought furiously.
"But, Dr. Cleo, you still don't know who I am," the boy kindly reminded her.
"We have plenty of time to get acquainted." Jackal couldn't be bothered to waste another second here. She moved, preparing to bypass this annoying fellow and continue walking. Anyway, with this guy's stupidity, he would definitely follow.
"But I think, out of courtesy, I should still introduce myself…" The "male student," finally having enough of his game, suddenly straightened up, reached out to take off his hat, raised his head, and revealed his amused face. "Or, there's no need to bother?"
Jackal, seeing that face, was only slightly taken aback before exclaiming in disbelief, "...Lin Wei, it's you?!"
Chapter 185: Let's Be Friends
"Lin Wei, it's you?!"
Although they had never met in person, Jackal was intimately familiar with Lin Wei's face. She had even "yearned" for it, in a way. So, when he suddenly appeared before her like this, she couldn't help but feel utterly shocked.
How dare he show himself so brazenly?
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Jackal instinctively reached for her hip, only to find empty space. Her heart sank.
"Oh dear, Professor Cleo, what are you doing?" Lin Wei asked with a chuckle, Faking surprise. "Looking for something? Did you prepare a welcome gift for your students? As expected of a world-renowned professor~"
He emphasized "world-renowned professor," the mockery clear as day.
"Heh…" Aware of his hostility, Jackal didn't want to lose face. She let out a cold laugh, retorting, "Taking something without asking is called stealing. Didn't anyone teach you that?"
"Hmm… Professor Cleo is indeed learned, even using ancient Shenzhou proverbs to lecture me. Truly admirable." Lin Wei nodded earnestly, Faking humility before asking with a puzzled look, "But I'm not a thief? What thief would appear before you so openly?"
He placed his hat over his chest, giving Jackal a gentlemanly bow. With a smile, he continued, "Allow me to introduce myself again. I'm a magician. I'm here to give you a small gift. What happened just now was… a little impromptu performance."
As he spoke, Lin Wei flipped his hat, revealing a uniquely shaped pistol nestled within the crown. He had swiped it when he grabbed Jackal's hand—a sleight of hand trick he learned from Pardofelis back in the Elysian Realm.
"Mei goes to the Elysian Realm to 'explore and discover'; when it's my turn, the theme becomes 'apprenticeship'?" Lin Wei thought wryly, but his face held a calm smile as he gently presented the hat to Jackal, demonstrating he meant no harm.
"Why do these people always carry pistols? Especially Jackal, how did she even get through security?" Lin Wei wondered, his eyes appraising Jackal's alluring figure.
He had already seen Cocolia and Gray Serpent with firearms. This livid woman before him made three. (Siegfried didn't count – his was a Divine Key).
"Hmph!" Jackal stared at Lin Wei, hesitant. After a moment, she cautiously reached for the hat. Seeing Lin Wei make no other moves, she relaxed, cursing him inwardly as a "fool" while quickly retrieving her gun.
She swiftly chambered a round, pressing the gun against Lin Wei's forehead. "Die, you fool!" Jackal's face was filled with the satisfaction of revenge as she pulled the trigger.
From the moment Lin Wei appeared, Jackal had been planning to capture him. This was the perfect opportunity. Even if it was just his corpse, while not as good as a live specimen, it would still do!
Click.
The firing pin struck empty air. Jackal's heart sank again. Tricked… again?
"Oh, what a pity, Dr. Jackal…" Lin Wei flicked his hat brim with a look of regret, placing it back on his head. "I thought we were friends. This is quite hurtful…"
He held the brim of his hat between his fingers, several gleaming bullets visible between each gap. With a twitch of his hand, they disappeared into his palm. "Or is this your way of showing hospitality, Dr. Jackal?"
This was the first time Lin Wei addressed her by her World Serpent codename. He tossed the bullets into a nearby trash can, ignoring Jackal's darkening expression.
"Heh, I thought you were going to keep up the charade." Jackal holstered her empty gun, sneering. "Friends? With you?"
Thankfully, this was a restricted access area. The confrontation went unnoticed by the guests and audience members from the conference hall. Otherwise, it would have caused a scene.
"Stop pretending. It's disgusting!" Jackal snapped. She couldn't stand Lin Wei's constant provocations. "Do you think you can threaten me like this? How laughable!"
She still remembered the threatening phone call she received at the British Museum. It had terrified her. She thought she had made a fatal mistake, exposing herself and even the Stigmata project. If that were the case, her sins would be unforgivable!
The terror she felt then turned into burning resentment for Lin Wei once she learned the truth.
That despicable and shameless man! I will make him pay!
"Is that so? That's truly regrettable…" Lin Wei nodded knowingly, his face full of mock sympathy. "In that case, I won't impose any longer. I'll just try to make friends with some other people."
He bowed in a theatrical manner, like a magician taking a final bow. His exaggerated movements made Jackal's skin crawl.
Then, with a meaningful smile, he turned to leave, not looking back. He didn't seem worried about Jackal attacking him from behind.
And she didn't.
She was in too vulnerable a position. Who knew what other tricks this despicable man had up his sleeve?
Jackal wanted to stop him. This was still the best chance to capture him—if Raven would just help. But Raven hadn't offered any support at all!
If she had, Jackal wouldn't have been so humiliated, forced to watch Lin Wei taunt her before casually strolling away.
Even with all her tricks, she couldn't do anything when he got so close.
And how did he know her identity?
Jackal couldn't understand. Could it be Raven? The thought of Raven's absence, the lack of any warning, planted a seed of doubt in her mind.
But… that couldn't be, right? Jackal had absolute trust in her comrades. They shared the same mission. She didn't believe they would betray her so easily. After all, compared to me, her long-time companion, what did Lin Wei have to offer?
Beep beep beep…
Just as Jackal's expression shifted between anger and confusion, her communicator beeped. A message from Raven.
Jackal almost laughed in disbelief. Perfect timing!
She immediately answered the call. "Raven, I expect an explanation!" she demanded.
"Explanation? What explanation?" The voice on the other end sounded confused by Jackal's aggressive tone. After a pause, Raven said, "I have some news. A Schicksal Valkyrie squad has entered the campus you're in. Be careful. Prepare to evacuate."
What? Valkyrie squad? Schicksal?
Jackal was stunned. How did they find her?
"Could it be him again?" She couldn't help but look back at Lin Wei's retreating figure, recalling his parting words: "try to make friends with some other people."
Damn it, was he threatening her again? The humiliation, the anger, surged through her again, making her want to kill.
Just a Valkyrie squad… you think that can scare me? Hmph, arrogant, ignorant fool!
At this thought, Jackal suddenly calmed down. She lifted her chin slightly, glancing at Lin Wei with disdain, a sense of intellectual superiority filling her.
She couldn't wait to reap the rewards of her plan!
But the voice on the communicator hadn't stopped. "By the way, you wanted an explanation? What explanation?" Raven seemed to have just remembered the question. "Did you already find traces of the Schicksal Valkyries yourself? I didn't know you were so perceptive."
"Perceptive? Heh! Of course I'm perceptive! That damned Lin Wei just showed up right in front of me!"
The small praise only fueled Jackal's anger after her bruised pride. "Those Valkyries, he definitely led them here!"
"Lin Wei? He's there too?" The voice on the other end paused, surprised. "You saw him? He's in that school too?"
"Hmph, yes! He was right in front of me, giving me his 'warm regards'!" Jackal gritted her teeth. "But I'm curious, how did he know my secret?"
Did you tell him?
"Oh! I get it, you suspect I told him your location? That's what you wanted me to 'explain,' right?" Before Jackal could voice her accusation, Raven seemed to have a sudden realization. Then, she said, exasperated, "Seriously, how many times have you suspected me now? Why not suspect yourself? Remember, that collar on your cat was infected by the Key of Corruption."
"That…" Jackal was speechless. It made sense…
"If you keep this up, I'll tell Gray Serpent you don't welcome me here," Raven said lazily. "I'll just return the commission. Pretend I was never here."
"Hmph, do as you please. Just make sure you hold off that S-rank Valkyrie before that—she hasn't appeared, right?" Jackal wanted confirmation.
"No, she hasn't. Based on the data, it's just the local garrison squad."
"Hmph, good. I can handle the rest myself!" Jackal felt relieved, her arrogance returning.
She had made a decision: summon Stan, cause chaos, eliminate all the Valkyries, and capture that damned Lin Wei for her lab!
And the consequences? Heh, a Honkai beast incident, killing Schicksal personnel… there might be some collateral damage, but what does that have to do with the fortunate Dr. Cleo, who managed to escape?
"Uh… I should probably warn you, I noticed one of the Valkyries is that 'natural fusion warrior' you mentioned. I advise against acting rashly." Just as Jackal was getting excited, Raven's voice doused her enthusiasm. "If they were really led here by Lin Wei, and they team up, you'll be in serious danger. I can't hold off that S-rank Valkyrie for long."
"You… hmph!" Jackal swallowed the word "useless." She was still relatively tolerant towards a select few. She processed the information and hung up.
"What should I do? Evacuate?"
Just as Jackal was panicking, her communicator beeped again, sending her blood pressure soaring. "Spit it out!" she yelled.
"Master, a group of unidentified individuals are approaching the Biological Research Institute from different directions. Data analysis identifies them as Schicksal Valkyries, threat level unknown. Please decide how to respond as soon as possible." The android's voice was calm, objective, and emotionless.
Crack.
Jackal squeezed the communicator's casing, a crack appearing under the pressure. The relentless bad news was making her dizzy.
Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she gave her orders to the now-staticky communicator. "Android E311, initiate the emergency protocol. Destroy all Serpent-related classified data within the base. Take the important assets and evacuate immediately through the secret passage."
"Yes, Master." The android hung up immediately. She had a lot to do.
I have no choice. I have to abandon this hideout! Jackal thought dejectedly.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!! She couldn't understand. Just an hour ago, everything was fine. How did it turn into this?
She abruptly looked up, glaring at the retreating figure still pretending to leave.
This guy… he was aiming for her all along!
It's all your fault!
"Stop right there!" Jackal roared, her eyes fixed on Lin Wei.
You've been walking for so long and you're still within my sight. Do you think I'm stupid?
Lin Wei, as if he hadn't heard, continued walking away.
"Damn it! Bastard! You despicable…" Jackal cursed. Lin Wei remained indifferent.
Enraged, Jackal kicked over a nearby trash can. The loud crash echoed. The bullets Lin Wei had tossed, along with other trash, scattered across the floor.
Lin Wei didn't react, further confirming Jackal's suspicion that he was putting on an act.
"Heh, you want me to chase you? Admit defeat? Dream on!"
Jackal looked around for something else to throw, her eyes landing on the scattered bullets amidst the trash.
"..." She swallowed, hesitated, and then, despite her disgust, picked up a few. After carefully selecting the cleanest one, she wiped it off and loaded it into her gun.
Click.
The crisp metallic sound was music to her ears.
She aimed the gun at Lin Wei's back. Through gritted teeth, she hissed, "Now. Stop. Right. There!"
Lin Wei stopped.
He turned around, his expression unreadable as he looked at Jackal's face, a mixture of frustration and resentment. Slowly, he said, "You don't want to be friends with me, and you don't want me to make friends with others. Dr. Jackal, you're making things very difficult for me."
He started walking back towards her, his steps steady and calm, the gun pointed at him seemingly irrelevant. "So, what more do you have to say?"
"Heh, stop pretending!" Jackal kept the gun trained on Lin Wei but didn't dare to shoot. She was afraid of another trick. In this vulnerable position, she couldn't risk it. All she could do was maintain her tough facade. "This is all thanks to you!"
"Indeed, but so what? Do you dare shoot?" Lin Wei took off his hat. In his hands, it transformed into a black box, spinning between his fingers as he continued walking towards her.
"Your grudge with Schicksal… I didn't want to get involved. But now, I have no choice." He spoke slowly, his approach relentless. "I have to seek justice for her. That's why I'm here."
"…Heh, is that so? It seems I was too lenient. I regret it now!" Jackal stubbornly refused to back down.
Although her purpose in injuring Anna was to lure out Lin Wei, she hadn't anticipated the consequences would be so unfavorable.
"Indeed. If you had been more ruthless, you wouldn't have the chance to regret it now." Lin Wei remained calm, his pace unwavering.
"So you chose to side with Schicksal?" Jackal found it unbelievable. "You offended World Serpent. Do you think that laughable Schicksal can protect you?"
"Reduced to using the organization's name to maintain your bravado? My poor Dr. Jackal," Lin Wei said with mock pity, continuing his advance.
"Shut up!" The word "poor" struck a nerve.
"Besides, wasn't I the one who saved your life from Schicksal? You should be thanking me, Dr. Jackal."
"…What nonsense are you talking about?" Jackal ignored his taunts.
"If I hadn't kept you busy here, when you returned to your lab, you would be in an even worse situation, wouldn't you? So, shouldn't you thank me?"
Jackal finally snapped. "Heh, don't think I don't know. You led those Schicksal people here!"
"Indeed. I told them there were some strange traces here, but that's all. The fact that they haven't appeared before you yet is proof." Lin Wei admitted freely. "If I truly wanted to hand you over to Schicksal, you would already be in custody."
"…What do you want?" Jackal couldn't figure out his intentions.
"Nothing much. I just wanted to make a friend. Too bad you refused…" Lin Wei smiled, a wide, almost too friendly smile, revealing a glint of teeth. "But now, I'm magnanimous enough to give you another chance, esteemed Dr. Jackal."
"…What do you want?" Tormented and on edge, Jackal now resembled a frightened animal. Lin Wei's smile made her flinch. She instinctively tried to raise her gun, her last resort—
Clang!
Her gun flew through the air, clattering to the floor.
Lin Wei finally stood before her. Two black pistols materialized in his hands. He pressed them together, the two guns merging into a single blade wreathed in black flames—the Key of Corruption, Pandora.
"Now, choose, my dear Dr. Jackal." Lin Wei raised Pandora, having knocked her pitiful pistol away with it. The black tip pointed directly at her.
"Hand you over to the Schicksal Valkyries, a core member of World Serpent with so many secrets, as my little welcome gift? They're not far from here." Lin Wei's smile remained fixed.
"Or… become my friend?"
Jackal stared at the blade, its heat almost scorching her hair. She swallowed, managing to say, her voice trembling slightly, "Lin Wei, don't push it!"
The price of surrendering to Schicksal was too high. For World Serpent's mission, she couldn't submit. But her pride wouldn't let her beg.
"Very well. I won't force you…" Lin Wei abruptly dispelled Pandora, the flames vanishing. "Let's compromise. As thanks for saving your life, how about you buy me a cup of coffee?"
He gave her a magnanimous smile, his tone friendly and inviting.
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